{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "sperm-whale",
  "name": "Sperm Whale",
  "scientificName": "Physeter macrocephalus",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The sperm whale is the largest toothed predator on Earth, with males reaching 16–20 m (52–66 ft) and over 50 tonnes. Famous for deep dives exceeding 2,000 m hunting giant squid, it has the largest brain of any animal and lives in social female-led pods across the world's oceans.",
  "conservationStatus": "Vulnerable",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Artiodactyla",
    "family": "Physeteridae",
    "genus": "Physeter"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 40000,
    "lengthM": 16,
    "topSpeedKmh": 35,
    "lifespanYears": 65
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Physeter macrocephalus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore — squid, deep-sea fish, and occasional sharks"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Deep offshore waters worldwide; males range into polar seas"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "60–70 years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "Males up to 57,000 kg; females 15,000 kg"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 35 km/h (22 mph) swimming"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Vulnerable (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Deep offshore waters worldwide in all major oceans; males range into polar seas while females and young stay in warmer temperate and tropical waters.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa",
      "Asia",
      "Europe",
      "North America",
      "Oceania",
      "Oceans",
      "South America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Physeter macrocephalus.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Physeter%20macrocephalus&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Physeter macrocephalus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Physeter_macrocephalus/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Sperm Whale.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm_whale"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sperm-whale/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sperm-whale/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}